10 Surprisingly Canceled TV Shows

After a number of time slot switch-ups, 'Family Guy' lost many of its initial viewers. After it was axed, Cartoon Network revived the adult cartoon and has allowed it to exist in the pop culture realm for what seems like an eternity. FOX/Getty Images

Fox just couldn't make up its mind about "Family Guy." It introduced Seth McFarlane's animated series in 1999, and its initial ratings were good. But the network switched its time spot several times causing viewers to drop away. The show was done after two seasons. (Just kidding!) Fox changed its mind and allowed a third season, but after that it was axed again, for good this time.

Wait, can't you take a joke? When the show's first DVD came out, sales skyrocketed, according to USA Today. More than 1.5 million copies flew off the shelves, outselling any other disk that year. Volume two sold a mere million copies but that still wasn't so shabby. Cartoon Network's late-night Adult Swim ran "Family Guy's" 50 episodes, and they became the highest-rated shows for that time block. (No big deal.) Fox said, "You know what? Let's bring "Family Guy" back again." The series returned for the third time in 2005, and it's still going strong. Third time's the charm.